Complaint Review: St. Martin's Power Boats - Ohio
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- St. Martin's Power Boats , Ohio United States of America
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- Category: Boat Dealers
St. Martin's Power Boats St. Martin Powerboat Model F-11, Ohio
*Consumer Comment: CROOK
*Consumer Comment: Design Flaws in watercraft
*Consumer Suggestion: Authorized Dealerships
*Consumer Comment: 2009 F-11
*REBUTTAL Owner of company: Official Response from the Company
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I own a St. Martin model F-11. This boat is non functional in that was designed for appearance alone. As a practical matter when equipped with the 9.9 horsepower motor for which it is rated the nose of the boat rides high in the air blocking forward vision. The rear of the boat rides so low water comes over the rear of the boat. The motor, even when raised to it's highest position, rides so low in the water that water enters the motor cover and wets the ignition causing the motor to quit.
The boat does not respond to trim changes or prop pitch changes. St. Martin dealers acknowledge the problem and suggest adding three 50 pound bags of water softener salt in plastic bags to the front of the boat as trim ballast. This is only a 202 pound boat. This fix does little to solve the problem.
I added the the suggested 150 pounds to the bow of the boat and then sat on the nose of the boat during operation (I weigh 195 pounds) which did hold the nose down during operation. Anytime 345 pounds of ballast is required to trim a 202 pound boat there is a serious design problem. This added weight exceeds the weight limit of the boat assigned by the Coast Guard .The top speed of my boat is 5.4 MPH on GPS. Average speed for this size boat should be about 15+ MPH.
As a Mechanical Engineer I am familiar with design flaws. After two years of attempting to make this poorly designed junk function I have given up. I can not sell this boat to someone else with a clear conscience . The alternative is to cut the boat in half and dispose of it as hazardous waste as it can not legally be put in a land fill.
Hull Identification Numbers (HIN) are not engraved on the right rear of St. Martin boats as required by federal law. A Manufactures Statement of Origin is issued with the boat--but that number is not on the boat hull. This is probably done to avoid legal responsibility as the boat could not be
This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 05/03/2012 07:04 PM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/st-martins-power-boats/-ohio-/st-martins-power-boats-st-martin-powerboat-model-f-11-ohio-878097. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year. Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report. READ: Foreign websites steal our content
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#5 Consumer Comment
CROOK
AUTHOR: Guess who - ()
SUBMITTED: Saturday, January 18, 2014
I was supid enough to buy a franchise with this Company. I had the boats inspected by a former US Coast Guard Inspector who clearly stated that they were in fact dangerous, badly made .
The owner of the company Paul Spivak is a con man, terrotory i purchased was sold to others DAYS after i bought them. Feel free to contact ANY of the franchisee's.
The guy is a Liar, a Con man, would advise anyone thinking of doing anything with this guy to thoroughly research him personally, pay attention to these so called boats and to a tanning business. Check out his court cases and speak to anyone involved with him. I tried to sue in court but he knows the system inside out, I ran out of money and the courts i thought a joke, i have proof the boats are junk, i have proof he is a liar and con man, i have proof he sold territory days after i bought it.
If anyone is taking legal action against this fool i will glady support you
#4 Consumer Suggestion
Authorized Dealerships
AUTHOR: Rick D. - (United States of America)
SUBMITTED: Sunday, March 10, 2013
In my opinon, The Manufactor is more interested in selling "Territories and Dealerships" to Novice buyers with little or no experience in the boating world instead of focusing on reparable dealerships to sell there products. The hull design, performance and weight distribution are poor at best.
#3 Consumer Comment
Design Flaws in watercraft
AUTHOR: Rick D. - (United States of America)
SUBMITTED: Sunday, March 10, 2013
I own 2 F-13 St Martin Powerboats for rental porposes, I HAVE not PUT THEM FOR RENTALS AS OF THIS DAY. I have own the boats for 2 years, YES they are design flaws, with" THE SQUAT" that you refer to. now I have owned a 22 ft. Scarab with a 454 engine, same problem, had lots of problems "getting on top, or commenly known as the plain" but one there, I'M AT 76MPH, Prop Problems & weight displacement and trim tabs are the problem. YOU SAY YOU HAVE A 11' WITH A 9.9HP MOTOR? The two i have are powered by a 50 hp Yamaha ,once plianed off top Speed 55 MPH. You do not have enough power to plain off with that engine, it is a joke. I had the same problem plaining off. Solution: 1. Buy A LARGER MOTOR AND OR REDO YOUR PROP, #2. RELOCATE BATTERIES & FUEL TANK TO BOW OF THE CRAFT,#3. TRIM TABS. IF ALL ELSE FAILS AND YOUR READY TO GET RID OF IT, CALL ME or use it as a VIKING FUNERAL BOAT and set it out to sea....
#2 Consumer Comment
2009 F-11
AUTHOR: JasonL - (United States of America)
SUBMITTED: Wednesday, July 11, 2012
I can verify this man's concerns regarding the F-11. My father recently purchased a 2009 F-11 from the dealer located in Hampstead, North Carolina. After purchasing the boat and having the engine mounted the boat became unusable. After talking to the manufacturer they admitted the design flaw and offered up a similar suggestion in adding weight to the bow of the boat and even went so far as to recommend adding trim tabs to try and correct the problem. None of this information was communicated before the sale of the boat by the dealer.
In my fathers words 'This boat isn't even fit to be a carnival ride.'
#1 REBUTTAL Owner of company
Official Response from the Company
AUTHOR: St. Martin Powerboats - (United States of America)
SUBMITTED: Thursday, June 14, 2012
Mr or Ms Buckwheat1,
It is with great surprise that we find this review. Forgive us if we appear somewhat skeptical in our rebuttal, however the internet is a "wild west" where any anonymous poster can slag a company including your competition.
Our records indicate no sale of an F-11 in your location in 2010. Could you be specific in terms of where you purchased the boat? Your dealer should have advised you that we stand behind our boats 100%, and each boat also carries a 5 year hull warranty.
We have no record of anyone contacting us with the problem you described. It does seem odd given the fact you had a non functional boat with a full warranty that you chose not to contact us. Instead choosing to spend 2 years (as an engineer) trying to repair this "poorly designed junk" as you put it.
We would NEVER recommend putting salt bags in the front of the boat for improved performance. We ask that everyone who has purchased a boat without an outboard engine installed at the factory contact us directly for rigging directions.
The bottom line - If you are an actual customer experiencing these issues please call us! Let us help you to fix the problem.
And now for the benefit of anyone considering one of our boats;
A simple online search for "minispeedboats" or a visit to our Youtube channel will reveal dozens of videos of our boats being enjoyed worldwide. If you check reviews on Tripadvisor you will see hundreds of positive reviews from all over the world lauding the handling of our boats - and not one negative.
We sell hundreds of our boats each year from Ireland to Dubai. Our boats have been have been featured on several Prime Time Television shows and multiple industry websites. All our boats are US Coast Guard approved and tested.
We aren't perfect - but we do feel we build a great boat and do our best to make things right if there is a problem.
Thank you,
Saint Martin Powerboats Management
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